Film projector and cartridge apparatus

Claim 2

Film projector and sound apparatus of the type utilizing a cartridge containing a film having a sound track, said cartridge being movable into a first operable position within said projector and being withdrawable therefrom, said apparatus comprising, sound pickup means in said projector for picking up sound information from said sound track, film advancing means in said projector for moving said film past said pickup means, film-engaging means for engaging and urging said film into engagement with said sound pickup means and said film advancing means in direct response to movement of said cartridge into said first position, said film-engaging means being retractable away from said film in direct response to withdrawal movement of said cartridge, first cartridge engaging means for moving said film engaging means toward an operative position when said cartridge is moved toward said first position, and second cartridge engaging means for holding said film-engaging means in engagement with said film when said cartridge is in said first position, said second cartridge engaging means being movable into engagement with said cartridge in response to movement of said first cartridge engaging means by said cartridge.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said cartridge is movable in a path toward said first position and said film-engaging means is moved into said path when said cartridge is moved toward said first position.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said film-engaging means is retracted from said path when said cartridge is withdrawn.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said film-engaging means is carried by support means normally biasing said engaging means away from said film.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said film-advancing means is a drive capstan and said film-engaging means comprises a pressure pad means for engaging and urging said film against said sound pickup means and a spring-loaded roller for engaging and urging said film against said capstan.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said film-engaging means is mounted on a pivoted frame, and wherein said first cartridge engaging means includes an actuating lever on said frame, said lever being disposed in a path of movement of said cartridge for engaging said cartridge and moving said film-engaging means toward said film when said cartridge is moved toward said first position.

Claim 8

Film projector and sound apparatuS of the type utilizing a cartridge containing a film having a sound track, said cartridge being movable into a first operable position within said projector and being withdrawable therefrom, said apparatus comprising, sound pickup means in said projector for picking up sound information from said sound track, film advancing means in said projector for moving said film past said pickup means, film-engaging means for engaging and urging said film into engagement with said pickup means and said film advancing means in direct response to movement of said cartridge into said first position, said film-engaging means being mounted on a pivoted frame so that said film engaging means is movable away from said film in direct response to withdrawal of said cartridge, an actuating lever means on said frame, said lever means being disposed in a path of movement of said cartridge for contacting said cartridge and moving said film-engaging means toward said film when said cartridge is moved toward said first position, and positioning means for holding said film-engaging means against said film when said cartridge is in said first position, said positioning means comprising a cartridge-engaging roller means mounted on said frame and movable into said path upon movement of said cartridge against said lever means, said cartridge when in said first position engaging said roller means to hold said film-engaging means against said film.

Claim 9

Film projector and sound apparatuS of the type utilizing a cartridge containing a film having a sound track, said cartridge being movable into a first operable position within said projector and being withdrawable therefrom, said apparatus comprising, sound pickup means in said projector for picking up sound information from said sound track, film advancing means in said projector for moving said film past said pickup means, film-engaging means for engaging and urging said film into engagement with said pickup means and said film advancing means in direct response to movement of said cartridge into said first position, said film-engaging means being mounted on a pivoted frame so that said film engaging means is movable away from said film in direct response to withdrawal of said cartridge, an actuating lever means on said frame, said lever means being disposed in a path of movement of said cartridge for contacting said cartridge and moving said film-engaging means toward said film when said cartridge is moved toward said first position, and positioning means for holding said film-engaging means against said film when said cartridge is in said first position, said positioning means comprising a cartridge-engaging roller means mounted on said frame and movable into said path upon movement of said cartridge against said lever means, said cartridge when in said first position engaging said roller means to hold said film-engaging means against said film.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said frame is normally biased to pivot said film-engaging means away from said film.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 8 including means for holding said cartridge in said first position.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said projector has a cartridge-receiving cavity and further including cartridge-positioning means at least adjacent said cavity.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said cartridge includes a cooperating means for cooperating with said cartridge positioning means and for positioning said cartridge in said chamber.

Claim 14

A film-containing cartridge for use in a film projector and sound apparatus of the type having film drive means, sound pickup means, a path for film cartridge insertion, and film-engaging means pivotally mounted to said projector and movable into said path for engaging a film and for positioning it against said sound pickup means and said film drive means, said film-containing cartridge being movable into a first position within the projector and being withdrawable from said first position along said path, said cartridge including means on said cartridge for engaging said film-engaging means and holding said film-engaging means against said film when said cartridge is in its first position, said means on said cartridge including a first forward surface means for engaging a first portion of said film engaging means and a second surface means disposed rearwardly of said first surface means, for engaging a second portion of said film-engaging means and for holding said film-engaging means against said film. 21

Claim 15

A film-containing cartridge for use in a film projector and sound apparatus of the type having film drive means, sound pickup means, a path for film cartridge insertion, and film-engaging means pivotally mounted to said projector and movable into said path for engaging a film and for positioning it against said sound pickup means and said film drive means, said film-containing cartridge being movable into a first position within the projector and being withdrawable from said first position along said path, said cartridge including means on said cartridge for engaging said film-engaging means and holding said film-engaging means against said film when said cartridge is in its first position, said means on said cartridge including a first forward surface means for engaging a first portion of said film engaging means and a second surface means disposed rearwardly of said first surface means, for engaging a second portion of said film-engaging means and for holding said film-engaging means against said film. 21

Claim 16

A film-containing cartridge as in claim 12 wherein said projector and sound apparatus includes a stationary cartridge-positioning means in said projector at least adjacent said path, and wherein said cartridge further comprises means on said cartridge disposed for cooperating with said cartridge positioning means when said cartridge is moved toward said first position and for properly positioning said cartridge with respect to said projector, said sound pickup means, said film drive means and said film-engaging means.

Claim 17

A cartridge as in claim 13 wherein said cartridge-positioning means in said projector comprises a rib extending into said path and wherein said cooperating means on said cartridge comprises a channel disposed to receive said rib.

Claim 18

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said second cartridge engaging means is mounted on said frame and is projected into said path when said lever engages, and is moved by said cartridge, saId second cartridge engaging means subsquently pivoting said frame and urging said film-engaging means toward and against said film when said cartridge is moved toward and into said first position.

Claim 19

Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said second cartridge engaging means comprises a roller means mounted on said frame.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said cartridge positioning means comprises a rib extending into said cavity and said cooperating means comprises a rib receiving channel.

Claim 21

Film projector and sound apparatus of the type utilizing a cartridge containing a film having a sound track, said cartridge being movable along a path into a first operable position within said projector and being withdrawable therefrom, said apparatus comprising, sound pickup means in said projector for picking up sound information from said sound track, film advancing means in said projector for moving said film past said pickup means, film-engaging means for engaging and urging said film into engagement with said sound pickup means and said film advancing means in direct response to movement of said cartridge into said first position, said film-engaging means being retractable away from said film in direct response to withdrawal of said cartridge, movable support means supporting said film-engaging means, said support means having two cartridge engaging means extendable into said path, a first one of said cartridge engaging means being positioned in said path for engaging a cartridge moving toward said first position, and for moving a second one of said cartridge engaging means into said path, said second cartridge engaging means engaging said cartridge and holding said support means in a position so that said film-engaging means is maintained in an operative position when said cartridge is in its first position.

Claim 22

Film projector and sound apparatus of the type utilizing a cartridge containing a film having a sound track, said cartridge being movable along a path into a first operable position within said projector and being withdrawable therefrom, said apparatus comprising, sound pickup means in said projector for picking up sound information from said sound track, film advancing means in said projector for moving said film past said pickup means, film-engaging means for engaging and urging said film into engagement with said sound pickup means and said film advancing means in direct response to movement of said cartridge into said first position, said film-engaging means being retractable away from said film in direct response to withdrawal of said cartridge, movable support means supporting said film-engaging means, said support means having two cartridge engaging means extendable into said path, a first one of said cartridge engaging means being positioned in said path for engaging a cartridge moving toward said first position, and for moving a second one of said cartridge engaging means into said path, said second cartridge engaging means engaging said cartridge and holding said support means in a position so that said film-engaging means is maintained in an operative position when said cartridge is in its first position.

Claim 23

Apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said movable support means is normally biased in a direction to withdraw said film-engaging means from said film.

Claim 24

A film containing cartridge for use in a projector and sound apparatus of the type including means movable into a cartridge receiving cavity for engaging the film and pressing it respectively against a sound head and a drive capstan in the projector, said cartridge including, two side walls, and a front wall, said front wall including a first surface means for engaging a portion of said film engaging and pressing means and for moving said means into said cavity, and a second surface means disposed rearwardly of said first surface means and between said side walls for engaging another portion of said film engaging and pressing means to move and hold said engaging and pressing means respectively toward and against said film.

Claim 25

A film containing cartridge for use in a projector and sound apparatus of the type including means movable into a cartridge receiving cavity for engaging the film and pressing it respectively against a sound head and a drive capstan in the projector, said cartridge including, two side walls, and a front wall, said front wall including a first surface means for engaging a portion of said film engaging and pressing means and for moving said means into said cavity, and a second surface means disposed rearwardly of said first surface means and between said side walls for engaging another portion of said film engaging and pressing means to move and hold said engaging and pressing means respectively toward and against said film.

Claim 26

A cartridge as in claim 20 wherein said second surface means includes a first element in a plane parallel to the plane of said front wall.

Claim 27

A cartridge as in claim 21 wherein said second surface means includes a second element extending from said first element, said second element being inclined from said first element toward the plane of said front wall.

Claim 28

A cartridge as in claim 22 further including a top wall and a bottom wall and wherein said first element of said second surface means is near said bottom wall and said inclined second element of said surface means is near said top wall.

Claim 29

A universal sound-film projection apparatus for projecting various length films contained in cartridges of varying sizes, said projection apparatus including, a cartridge receiving cavity, a sound head station including sound pickup means, a drive capstan station including film advancing means, a projection station adjacent which a film is drawn past a light path for film projection, a single elongated cartridge engaging and positioning means at least adjacent said cavity, each of said stations being disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to said cartridge engaging and Positioning means, said projection apparatus further including, means for engaging and urging said film into operative engagement with said sound pickup means and with said film advancing means, including first cartridge engaging means for moving said film engaging means toward an operative position when said cartridge is inserted into said projection to engage said first cartridge engaging means, and second cartridge engaging means for holding said film-engaging means in engagement with said film when said cartridge is fully inserted within said projection, said second cartridge engaging means being movable into engagement with said cartridge in response to movement of said first cartridge engaging means by said cartridge, and wherein each of said film containing cartridges have stations corresponding to said projection apparatus stations, and including, a sound pickup station, a film drive station, a projection station, and a single elongated means for cooperating with said elongated cartridge engaging and positioning means, each of said cartridge stations being disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to said cooperating means, said predetermined spatial relationships being selected so that the respective stations of said projection apparatus and of each cartridge are operatively positioned to cooperate with each other when said cooperating means is operatively engaged by said cartridge engaging and positioning means, despite variations in external dimensions of the cartridge.

Claim 30

A universal sound-film projection apparatus for projecting various length films contained in cartridges of varying sizes, said projection apparatus including, a cartridge receiving cavity, a sound head station including sound pickup means, a drive capstan station including film advancing means, a projection station adjacent which a film is drawn past a light path for film projection, a single elongated cartridge engaging and positioning means at least adjacent said cavity, each of said stations being disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to said cartridge engaging and Positioning means, said projection apparatus further including, means for engaging and urging said film into operative engagement with said sound pickup means and with said film advancing means, including first cartridge engaging means for moving said film engaging means toward an operative position when said cartridge is inserted into said projection to engage said first cartridge engaging means, and second cartridge engaging means for holding said film-engaging means in engagement with said film when said cartridge is fully inserted within said projection, said second cartridge engaging means being movable into engagement with said cartridge in response to movement of said first cartridge engaging means by said cartridge, and wherein each of said film containing cartridges have stations corresponding to said projection apparatus stations, and including, a sound pickup station, a film drive station, a projection station, and a single elongated means for cooperating with said elongated cartridge engaging and positioning means, each of said cartridge stations being disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to said cooperating means, said predetermined spatial relationships being selected so that the respective stations of said projection apparatus and of each cartridge are operatively positioned to cooperate with each other when said cooperating means is operatively engaged by said cartridge engaging and positioning means, despite variations in external dimensions of the cartridge.

Claim 31

Apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said cartridge engaging and positioning means is a rib extending into said cavity.

Claim 32

Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein said means for cooperating with said cartridge engaging and positioning means includes a rib receiving channel in said cartridge.

Claim 33

Apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said cartridges have side walls spaced apart at selected predetermined distances to define cartridge widths, said cartridge receiving cavity being wide enough to receive the widest of said cartridges.